ACNM Past President Helps Launch Survive and Thrive Global Development Alliance in Burma

Silver Spring, MD – The
American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is proud to report the successful
launch of the Global Development Alliance Survive
and Thrive: Professional Associations, Private Sector, and Global Health
Scholars Saving Mothers, Newborns, and Children in Burma this week.

The innovative partnership’s launch in Burma was announced
by US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah
and included a panel discussion with ACNM Past President Katherine Camacho Carr,
PhD, CNM, ARNP, FACNM. Additional panelists included a representative from the
Ministry of Health, President of the Myanmar Nurses and Midwives Association
Professor Nang Htawn Hla, and Laerdal Global Health President Tore Laerdal.

Strengthening midwifery skills will be at the very core of Survive and Thrive in Burma as midwives
are the backbone of primary health care in the country and have a direct impact
on health outcomes. Dr. Camacho Carr will conclude her trip by participating in
a visit to the ERT Training Center for Midwives and a joint seminar of the
University of Public Health and USAID.

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is the
professional association that represents certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and
certified midwives (CMs) in the United States. With roots dating to 1929, ACNM
sets the standard for excellence in midwifery education and practice in the
United States and strengthens the capacity of midwives in developing countries.
Our members are primary care providers for women throughout the lifespan, with
a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive
health. ACNM reviews research, administers and promotes continuing education
programs, and works with organizations, state and federal agencies, and members
of Congress to advance the well-being of women and infants through the practice
of midwifery.

About Survive and Thrive

Globally, more than 280,000 women do not survive pregnancy
and childbirth. More than 7 million children die before their fifth birthday;
3.1 million of these are newborns. Launched in June 2012, the unprecedented
approach of Survive and Thrive aligns
with the US Government’s Global Health Initiative goal of reducing maternal
mortality by 30 percent and child mortality by 35 percent and supports the
United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) maternal and child health. The alliance aims to magnify its impact on these
goals in several ways. It will strengthen relationships between US professional
health care associations and in-country professional association members to
encourage learning and development through a peer-to-peer and partnership
approach. This effort also seeks to mobilize and equip senior volunteer members
from US, international, and national professional associations to strengthen
the skills of health workers and champion maternal, newborn, and child health
programs in developing countries. In
addition, the alliance will nurture emerging leaders in global health by
creating Global Health Scholars, a new kind of internship opportunity for
clinicians who are at the beginning of their careers. The phasing in of this
aspect of the program is scheduled to begin the following year and is
anticipated to be a bilateral program exchange between the US and host
countries. Scholars will have an
opportunity to learn in low-resource and high-resource settings, in conjunction
with leading US and in-country professional experts to nurture a passion for
global health, and go on to become teachers themselves, building the skills of
future clinicians.